Dying woman humiliated by revealing TSA pat-down
SEATTLE -- A dying woman says a a security pat-down at Sea-Tac Airport left her embarrassed in front of crowds of people.
Michelle Dunaj says screeners checked under bandages from recent surgeries, and refused to give her a private search when she requested one.
Dunaj, who is dying of leukemia, carried a large amount of prescription drugs through Sea-Tac to head to Hawaii for what would be one of the last trips of her life.
She called Alaska Airlines ahead of time to request a wheelchair and to ask how her medicines should be separated for the security line.
"I did everything they asked me to do, so I didn't think it would be an issue," she said.
But Dunaj says nothing went right at the security checkpoint.
A machine couldn't get a reading on her saline bags, so a TSA agent forced one open, contaminating the fluid she needs to survive.
She says agents also made her lift up her shirt and pull back the bandages holding feeding tubes in place. Dunaj needs those tubes because of organ failure.
With other passengers staring, Dunaj says she asked for privacy and was turned down.
"They just said that it was fine; the location we were at was fine," she said.
Said TSA spokesperson Ann Davis: "Officers are trained to perform pat downs in a dignified manner and, at any point, passengers can request a private screening with a witness present."
However, Dunaj says her request for a private screening was denied, and she does not want others with special needs to run into the same problem.
"And when somebody wants to take a trip, especially what I call an 'end-of-life trip' because you want to see your family and friends, then it becomes more important than just taking a trip," she said.
Davis said it is against policy for passengers to be denied privacy if they ask for it. The agency is responding to a request by KOMO News to look into the incident.
Boy those TSA agents just can't win for screwing themselves. Â Get it together folks you really suck and are quick on your way to becoming the most hated institution in the USA. Â
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One time I was told I had been randomly selected by computer for a more thorough check and interview at Sea-Tac. Â Imagine my amusement when I found that everyone in my party, my 4 other crewmates had also been randomly selected by the computer for additional scrutiny.
I'm really disturbed by the fact they asked to look under her bandages. Even if done in private as she asked that seems very unsanitary and way over the line.
The terrorist have won... And they took over the airports.
But of course the airport, Alaska Airlines and TSA will just issue a cold hearted response by saying they're doing the best they can etc. Nothing will be done, nobody will be reprimanded or fired. Do you really think they care? NO!
We're on your side Michelle, if I had the money I'd treat you to a trip to where ever you may want to go, a cruise trip to where ever... Hugs to you.
F.R.
Typical! Â Some abuse others rights, and then 'apologize' by saying it shouldn't have happened that way after the damage is done!
I'm so sorry that when she is having to deal with everything else, that she couldn't even be left with her dignity when trying to spend her last bit of time with family. Just sad.
I think it is a sad time we live in where the government treats the people like common criminals. We are losing our freedoms every single day. How many terrorist did the TSA catch since they were implemented? My point exactly. The people of the united states need to stand up[ and put our foots down. Enough is enough. TSA needs to be disbanded and the government needs to be gutted of its corruption and taken back by the people. Let me tell you this if a terrorist want to do damage no amount of security will stop the will of those madmen.
@Joji The TSA ARE the terrorists.
Searching a person as they did Ms Dunaj, is completely inexcusable. Â Â Forcing open a container of her (sterile) saline solution and contaminating it, and doing her screening in front of other passengers (especially after she had (1) first requested a private screening by telephone ahead of time, then (2) AGAIN requested it while she was going through security) EXCEEDED "inexcusable". Â Â We won't even MENTION having her remove bandages from surgical sites, which could lead to infection...
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TSA, at the VERY least, owes Ms Dunaj a public apology. Â Â The agent who "screened" her needs to lose his/her job, along with whoever (supposedly) trained him/her; obviously, they FAILED to do their job..!
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I never thought I would live to see the day when the USA would give in to terrorists, but it appears that we have done exactly that. Â We have porous borders that allow drug-runners and people-smugglers in at their leisure, and our own gov't refuses to secure those borders... while at the same time, we strip-search our own citizens, including the very young, the elderly, and infirm, as though they were common criminals. Â Â There is something dreadfully wrong with this picture.
 @margay1 Well said.
AL-CIA-DA could be hiding in anyone's underwear.
There was no reason that she should have had to endure a public search. She did what she was supposed to by calling ahead and then even requesting a private screening. This woman could get an infection by the person searching her incision sites; thats why they are covered in the first place. This TSA agent needs to be fired and there needs to be POSTED guidelines to remind these TSA agents of the procedures- just like small children. My heart goes out to this woman and I hope she enjoys her remaining time with her family.
Said TSA spokesperson Ann Davis: "Officers are trained to perform pat downs in a dignified manner and, at any point, passengers can request a private screening with a witness present."
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Ann, you need to get your coiffed head out of your backside. Those aren't officers. They're nothing more than trained thug monkeys who enjoy abusing peoples' privacy and personal space for a cheap thrill.
 @Mikey I thought they were called AGENTS when I went through Denver a few weeks ago. Might be wrong ...
@Cindy B. @Mikey You are... they are terrorists.
 @Mikey That isn't true. I know a woman who works for TSA and you couldn't find a more professional or compassionate person than her. Imagine what she has to go through everyday from all the disgruntled passengers. She is doing her job, she didn't make the rules.
In this particular case they were wrong and they should've allowed a more private screening.
More than ONE MILLION passengers fly every day in America. This was ONE case in a MILLION.
 @Shelley Daline Dillon  @Mikey I agree with you Shelley that there are many in the TSA who are professional and compassionate. I have seen that too. I do believe, however, that this is more than an one in a million occurrence. From my own extensive traveling I have seen many cross the line of professionalism and decency and truly believe there is an innate problem that has worked its way into the culture at TSA. It is right to defend those who do their job well, but unfortunately this isn't an isolated incident. I wish it were.
@wvboy "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."Â Benjamin Franklin
There are more exceptions than you think. Any military, federal, and some state buildings and properties say at the entrance that you and your belongings are subject to search. Many airports are federal property and - same rule applies Do I think that TSA agents get stupid and like cops, can be a law unto themselves - YES. However, I have never seen in my times flying (since the TSA started) anything like I have read about. I certainly do not want to return to the days prior to TSA. There might as well not been screening. I would rather suffer some waiting and inconvienience, rather than the unknown. The world is getting more and more unsafe due to the ease of travel. There is a trade off in certain "freedoms". I am not ahppy with the slow erosion of those freedomes - however, i also do not have an answer except to shut the borders down to all but citizens?
Don't fly? There are times when people NEED to fly (for example, my father lives on the East Coast. When he dies, I won't be able to get to his funeral without flying. Then there are those people who travel on business). The TSA is treating people like criminals WITHOUT probable cause. According to the Fourth Amendment, a search cannot be performed on a person or their property without first obtaining a search warrant. I know there are exceptions to this. For example, police stop a driver for speeding and smell pot. That's probable cause and they don't have to get a warrant (at least that is my understanding. Perhaps a lawyer can chime in and clarify).
Nothing unconstitutional about these "acts". Don't fly if you don't want to endure them. I don't see or hear about people getting gassed or shot at the checkpoints - so your comparison is childish at best. People will try any manner of hiding drugs or explosives. Give her privacy but by all means search her physically  to the fullest extent that another high tech means will not allow. And give me a break about the saline solution. That is vital - but its not like its not replaceable. Much as people go on vacation with oxygen, they do with saline. Move along - nothing to see here with this story other than a person who wants but does not deserve special attention.
 @alohan  @Shelley Daline Dillon  @Mikey No one made that claim. There was no statement above justifying the actions of the TSA employees who conducted this inappropriate search; there was no one condoning this behavior. No statement above in the conversation between Shelley and myself suggested that all is well at the TSA, as it isn't. The argument was made that not every TSA agent is evil or doing a bad job, but the one's that are crossing the line need to be dismissed. The argument was also made that the TSA as a whole has serious problems that need to be addressed on a larger scale. No person in this exchange, until your statement, was claiming "just doing your job" was an excuse for being party to "these unconstitutional acts."
 @DeaconBugg  @Shelley Daline Dillon  @Mikey I'm sure the concentration camps had some decent guards too. "Just doing your job" is no excuse for being party to these unconstitutional acts.
 @Shelley Daline Dillon  @Mikey That's well said Shelley. Like you, I cringe when I read statements of derision that white wash everyone a certain way, whether it's the TSA, law enforcement, etc. There are really good people in these organizations that not only do their job well, but for the right reasons. We never read about those individuals as they don't attract attention even though they work in a high profile position. Although I do believe there is an inherit problem in the TSA that needs addressed, I also recognize that these problems exist with a smaller percentage of the overall group.
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I've been flying for over 25 years and it's amazing how much the experience has changed. The TSA is only one issue. People are less patient with one another in the airport. Common courtesy seems to be less and less. Customer service appears to be a lower priority.
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The traveler today recognizes that the current situation is at a breaking point. The only thing I'm confident about is that my experience tomorrow will be different that it was today; the uncertainty is whether it improves or continues to get worse.
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I'm always appreciative of a well articulated statement and appreciate your reply.
 @DeaconBugg  @Mikey Thank you for your kind reply. I have to admit that I haven't been on a airplane for more than 4 yrs, so I haven't experienced what you describe. I get upset when I hear people describe these workers as 'morons'. Getting a job with the TSA isn't easy- the qualifications are higher than what most people understand. But like you say, I imagine there is a percent of employees who don't behave like they should. I see this also with some police officers or other people with authority. I do believe everyone who flies deserves respect and dignity- and hopefully the problem you describe can be addressed as needed.
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So true, after all, Bush/Cheney are still in charge, aren't they? It's not like we had a presidential election about four years ago and voted in Obama/Biden, right? Oh wait......
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If you're going to blame Bush/Cheney, feel free to blame Obama even more, as the the problems have only gotten worse w/the TSA in the last few years. Or better yet, blame just the TSA.
 @OSUx2 GW's brother lead a firm that was in charge of communications at Dulles international airport and he also was in charge of security at the WTC. Ask yourself why the media kept the fact that a third building had collapsed on 9/11 out of the mainstream.
Most people don't know that a third building came down on that fateful day.Â
This rabbit hole is deep, but if you are the adventurous type here is the entrance...
ae911 . org.
The World's Largest Amateur Circus does it again.Â
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I am beyond outraged at this latest example of the rampant unprofessionalism and malfeasance that is at the heart of TSA. Here's just one link; you can easily find lots more:
http://www.federaljack.com/?p=177628
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The last time DHS formally responded to these proven crimes they said they're "old news," and repeated their denials that they're part of an ongoing pattern. Well guess what, nothing ever changes in this insular, sprawling, graft-ridden Orwellian nightmare. We've lost our country, and DHS is a prime example.
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Whether it's shrugging off rampant theft and sex crimes, covering up smuggling, or just plain mendacity like vandalizing luggage or singling out complainers for reprisal, TSA has shown - and continues to show - what they're really good at, and what they really focus on. This can't be fixed - it must be ABOLISHED - and the Texas GOP agrees:
www.tfn.org/site/DocServer/20...pdf?docID=3201
With this type of invasion on our privacy the terrorists have won the battle. They have changed our lives for ever, taking away our freedoms to travel as well as our dignity.
TSA is a joke allowing real threats through and stopping those that are the least threat to security. It is all a show with no gain.
TSA makes me sick, if this is what we are doing to every day Americans, I'm disgusted and "The Terrorists" have already won.
Shut down the TSA. End security theater. They have done nothing towards making air travel safer.
smh.. this is getting out of control. This really needs to be stopped. The TSA's abuse of power really needs looked at. Something really has to be done about this sort of thing.
Poking around bandages and feeding tubes seems like something only trained medical people should be doing.
Unhygienic and could cause infections in already ill people. I don't think this is right.
 @susan I hope she sues them over posing a health risk to her and for practicing medicine without a brain.
My heart breaks for this poor woman. How noble and brave she is, and how utterly stupid and insensitive these TSA people are. Heads need to roll on this one...and all the other things they've done to not only adults, but children as well. You're in my prayers Michelle. Godspeed.
How many of these intentional violations of peoples' rights and dignity do we have to witness before TSA and the Federal government learn?Â
@I812 Unfortunately, I812, the government will NEVER learn. Government involvement in our lives will continue to grow and more of rights will be stripped from us. If the people get wise and take a stand, we might get a respite, but the inconvenient truth is that the sheeple won't take a stand.
@theprodigal I am afraid you are correct. Congress has a 9% approval rating but the voters keep re-electing the same people. The people do have the power to change their government but they just refuse to do so no matter how bad it gets.
I hope someone loses their job for not following their own protocol.Â
 @pdxranger1 Don't hold your breath.....I have the feeling there will be a "slap on the wrist".....and that's all. What a sorry state of affairs.
So far the only "humiliated" passengers seem to be those who need to be screened by someone with at least a couple of brain cells working. People dying and on trips to visit a loved one for the last time, people with feeding bags, or stool/urine bags, and on and on. There needs to be a special (intelligent) agent in a private room to screen these people. An agent informed of medical issues, who can recognize , and pass them. Â
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It is similar to everyone being helpful of a person with a white cane but rude to those with hearing problems. One is obvious to every one and the other only to the person trying to converse with the person with the problem.
 @Yamhill354 "It is similar to everyone being helpful of a person with a white cane but rude to those with hearing problems. One is obvious to every one and the other only to the person trying to converse with the person with the problem."
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Another example -- talking to the person pushing a wheelchair, not the person IN the wheelchair. Â Had this happen several times when my mom was dying of cancer. Â I got so frustrated saying, "No, SHES' the customer, NOT me. Â Address her questions and issues, please!" Â Grrrr.
I will fully agree that the TSA has overstepped thier bounds , I fully support that we should not be searched for any type of weapons or explosives as it appears to be a civil rights violation. And if the TSA agrees and does no more searches I will fully support this action( up until the first plane explodes killing 200-300 people whos rights were not violated by the un reasonable searches) .
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I just saw a show where 11 pounds of Cocaine was hiddien in a 500' length of repelling rope. Considering that in a closed area of an aircraft where only a firecracker about the size of a roll of quarters can cause an explosive decompression at altitude. imagine what 11 pounds of explosives hidden in a IV bag  can do?
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Unfortunatley , the airlines dont have control over the searches at the TSA security line so calling them to see what needs to be done to get her equipment through was not wise. Mabye a call to Airport security to give them a heads up may have been more prudent.
 @Civ "Mabye a call to Airport security to give them a heads up may have been more prudent."
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First, the article (at least the video) says to call the TSA but doesn't give a number (so I don't know if a generic number is good enough or if you have to find a local number).
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Second, does TSA or the Airport Security have enough staff to even handle calls like this? Â Matching up countless travelers to their trips could get rather time consuming.
@CTWU Yes they have the man power and staffing to accomodate . Go to the to the airport website you are flying out of and the numbers are there.
It is just sickening the stupidity of the TSA. Why don't you steal this dying woman's Ipad while you are at it.
 @dkgiovenco Well the probably did. They pretty much steal everything else.
TSA needs a swift Kick in there collective arses handed to them. and one of these days it will be enough is enough and the fight will be on.
Back in early September when I flew home to Vermont, as I went through the X-ray machine, at PDX, the TSA agent said to me that some images didn't show up and that he needed to use the wand on me.  First and foremost, I did not react other than to be pleasant and cooperative.  As such the TSA agent responded in kind. We even joked a little. It's all about the attitude.
 @jallard I've traveled a couple of times a year since all of the TSA rules have been put in place.  I've tried to be polite and most times I am.  It can be very trying, though, when the airline loses your personal wheelchair in an unfamiliar city when your plans are to travel outside the city after landing (losing luggage is a big deal, losing a custom wheelchair without having any way of replacing it in a city you're not familiar with is just a little trying to say the least).  I've been patted down in places I didn't even know I had (or that doctors don't even touch!).
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Then there was the time in San Francisco where I was singled out for being suspicious (pre-wheelchair days, post 9-11) because I was flying on a direct flight back to Portland and all I had as carry ons were a book and a wallet because I didn't need anything else. Â Apparently that was enough to rouse suspicion. Â I tried to be polite to the screening agent (again, pre-TSA but on its way there) but I'm 5' 8" and she was 5' at best. Â She kept trying to pat the top of my head for some reason. Â Well, apparently my reactions and body language (don't ask me what they were cause I still don't know) was enough to have two national guardsmen aim their assault rifles at me. Â I really didn't want to get on the plane that day after more than 30 minutes of full-on body pat downs.
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Apparently asking the agent if it would be easier for her if I knelt down or went someplace private to strip were NOT what I should have done. Â I was just trying to get through the line and not miss my plane (and that's why my husband and I had limited our carry ons to the bare minimum to hopefully get through screening).
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They also like to separate me from my husband (and my medications so I have to rely on him to remember what I'm taking and why) so he can't help me get myself adjusted back into my wheelchair and leaving him having to deal with the now multiple medical carry on bags we have.
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So, yeah, I try to be positive and responsive but, sometimes, factors that take things out of our control make our attitudes not necessarily the most helpful. Â I'm actually thinking of making a t-shirt that says something like "Why, yes, this IS my happy face" since people don't seem to understand my apparently odd facial expressions.
 @CTWUÂ
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I am sorry that they do that to you. People can be cruel and indecent. Every time I fly with my son; he is 31 and and I am 65; my son always gets pulled aside, always. They have even broken his guitar. And, yes, I have lost luggage too, Â but that was years ago before 9/11.
 @jallard Thank you. But, sadly, it is what we figure is part of the "new" normal. Totally unacceptable but, apparently, it is the price we citizens have to pay to live in our own country.
 @jallardÂ
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Be a dying person with a feeding tube and having to remove the bandages that hold it in place and see how much smile remains on your face.
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 @RepomanÂ
There is no need to be sarcastic Repoman. I was just relaying my experience nothing more. Besides, prior to my flight I too contacted the TSA about any changes in procedures; and, asked about what they do when passengers who have to wear pads underneath their under garments, because of previous prostate cancer surgery. They responded in kind, informing me of their procedures. That's all I am saying. I am in no way criticizing the the poor woman. TSA told me that in the event that my urine set off alarms they would more than likely do a a strip search, to which I could have requested a private screening.
 @MikeyÂ
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It seems that way doesn't it? Still, what that particular TSA agent did to that woman was  reprehensible, to say the least. Â
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I find myself speculating that the reason for these screenings has nothing to do with Al Qaeda terrorist, but rather the governments fear of its own citizens. I am beginning to believe that they, our government and those corrupt politicians, live in fear of their own people wanting and initiating change; in government and how it should work, by whatever means necessary. Â They are afraid of US.
 @jallard  Why does "Private Screening" sound like "Private Show"?
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Just thinking out loud.